HANG TIME, Texas — You’ve got rookies often trying to wildly impress, second-year players who have a better understanding of what is expected and a few veterans who are hoping to get another taste of the big time.

Nine first-round picks — led by No. 2 Victor Oladipo, No. 8 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and No. 9 Trey Burke – will take part in the six days of competition that will take place on the Magic’s practice court at Orlando’s Amway Center. The games are not open to the public and will only be attended by media and league personnel. All games will be shown on NBA TV.

A new format will be added this summer with two extra teams and one extra day added to the schedule. Under the new format, each team will play five games over the six-day event, concluding with a championship day. Standings will be based on a seven-point system for each game — three points for a win and one point for winning each quarter.

Boston Celtics — It’s a whole new ballgame for the Celtics’ rebuilding program and there would seem to be plenty of room for new faces to earn a ticket to Boston now that Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Doc Riversare all gone. New coach Brad Stevens will be on hand to observe, but leading the team will be assistant coach Jay Larranaga. First-round pick Kelly Olynyk, obtained by trade from Dallas, will be the biggest name on the roster, though last year’s draftee Fab Melo is physically bigger. Avery Bradley is being given a rest from duty and Jared Sullinger is still recovering from back surgery.

Brooklyn Nets – The remade and reloaded Nets will have first round pick Mason Plumlee suiting up for the first time along with a pair of last season’s veterans Tornike Shengelia and Tyshawn Taylor. But all eyes during the week will surely on the rookie on the sidelines. After a 19-year playing career that will surely send him to the Hall of Fame, Jason Kidd is taking no time off and going right to the bench. It will be most interesting to see if Kidd is as good in this transition as he was on the court.

Detroit Pistons — Andre Drummond arrived in Orlando a year ago with something to prove to the doubters and then went back to Detroit and showed that he was not merely a summer fling. Drummond will return, but is not expected to play the full slate of five games. The Pistons will have their entire rookie class of 2013 —Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Tony Mitchell and Peyton Siva. New coach Maurice Cheeks may have his work cut out resurrecting the Pistons at the NBA level, but the summer roster is quite capable.

Houston Rockets — After all their maneuvering and salary cap gymnastics to try to land free agent Dwight Howard, the Rockets did not have a first-round pick this year, but may have gotten first-round quality in point guard Isaiah Canaan. Terrence Jones, a No. 1 from a year ago, will be on the team and continuing to show that he’s a keeper and this Houston bunch is also loaded with Patrick Beverley and Greg Smith.

Indiana Pacers – It seems like much longer than just four years ago that Jonny Flynn was the No. 6 pick in the 2009 draft and maybe that’s because he’s mostly been on the outside everywhere he’s gone, trying to justify that selection and prove that he belongs. Now he’s back from playing in Australia and trying to get that third guard spot with the Pacers, who are also bringing in Donald Sloane. This year’s first round pickSolomon Hill will join holdovers Miles Plumlee, Orlando Johnson and Ben Hansbrough from last season’s roster.

Miami Heat — After winning back-to-back NBA titles, the Heat aren’t taking the summer off. In fact, they’re working overtime, the only franchise to be fielding teams at both Orlando and Las Vegas. Miami didn’t have a first-round pick — remember, it was traded for that LeBron fellow. The rosters will be led by last season holdover center Jarvis Varnado and second-round pick James Ennis, a swingman out of Long Beach State. A couple of high profile college guards, Larry Drew II of UCLA and Myck Kabongo of Texas will play for the Heat. Joining the team in Orlando only are Cedric Jackson, Ian Clark, Dewayne Dedmon and D.J. Stephens.

Oklahoma City Thunder — While three rookies Steven Adams, Andre Roberson and Grant Jerrett will be on hand for their Thunder debuts, most eyes of the coaching staff and back in OKC will be on holdovers from the main roster Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb and Perry Jones. Jackson dazzled with his play in Orlando last summer, giving the first hint that he’d be ready to step into the point guard job when Russell Westbrookwent down.

Orlando Magic — When it looked like everybody was losing their minds at the top of the draft a week ago, Magic GM Rob Hennigan kept his eye on the prize and simply chose his man Victor Oladipo. Is he a point guard or a shooting guard? Or is he just ready to do anything the Magic ask in the backcourt? ForwardRomero Osby, a second round pick, has a lot of folks saying he’s a sleeper. Second-year men Maurice Harkless and Andrew Nicholson are also on the roster.

Philadelphia 76ers — While many Sixers fans are still reeling from the draft night trade that shipped out the young All-Star and favorite Jrue Holiday, this will be everyone’s first chance to see how his successor measures up. Michael Carter-Williams will be given the keys to the offense in Philly when the season starts in October, so consider this his going out to take the test for his driver’s license. Nerlens Noel, the prize that came in the trade for Holiday, will not play as he’s still rehabbing his knee injury. But Justin Holiday, Jrue’s brother, will be back to see if he can stick with the Sixers again.

Utah Jazz – Top draft pick Trey Burke said on draft night that he hopes to be the Jazz’ starting point guard on opening night next season. So he’ll start to press his case by running the summer show. Rookie centerRudy Gobert hopes to get in a few runs maybe by the end of the show in Orlando. He’s currently trying to work out a buyout of his contract with his French team and will need FIBA clearance. Center Enes Kanter is still recovering from shoulder surgery and neither Gordon Hayward or Derrick Favors will play, because they’re both part of the Team USA camp in August. Jazz fans will get to see a Stockton back in uniform. Hall of Famer John Stockton’s son Michael is a free agent signee.

WINTER PARK, Fla. — Of the Celtics holdovers from last season, perhaps none may be more directly affected by the coaching change than Fab Melo.

The second-year center is still very young in his basketball development, having taken up the game late in Brazil and growing into his 7-foot frame. But even though Melo was far from being able to contribute last year, Doc Rivers, who had more pressing concerns trying to keep a banged-up team together, wasn’t big on his potential either in public or private.

“I was a rookie. He didn’t usually give opportunities to rookies,” said Melo as he prepared for today’s summer league opener. “That’s all I think it was. It was hard. We didn’t have a lot of practices, so it was hard to show him anything. That was a problem.

“I definitely look at this as a fresh start. I’m ready for it. I feel a lot different. Last year I didn’t know what to expect; this year I know what’s going on. It’s different. I’m way more comfortable now.”

As for the coming season under new coach Brad Stevens, Melo said, “I think I’m very close. I’m working hard. I work on my game every day. I think now I’m going to be playing. That’s the thing that’s going to make me better, just playing basketball. That’s what I need. I just want to play and feel comfortable playing. I didn’t feel comfortable in the games I played in last year. Now I want to feel comfortable and show what I’m able to do.”

Assistant coach Jay Larranaga is running the Celtics entry in the Orlando summer league, and has worked with Melo a lot on the side the last several months.

“I think Fab has done great from the moment I started with the team,” Larranaga said. “He’s not a finished product, but he’s constantly working to improve and he is improving. We’re very hopeful that this summer league will be a big part of that improvement.

“We’ve talked about it, and he knows it’s a big week for him. He’s really been preparing the last month in Boston and working hard, so I expect him to have a great summer league.

“He’s got a ton of potential,” Larranaga added. “He had some great games this season in the D-League. He did some things that no player has ever done before, with his triple-doubles. He made a great impact defensively, so we just really have to get him to translate that to the NBA and on a consistent basis.”

Staying put

Jamie Young passed up an opportunity to join Rivers’ Clippers staff to remain with the Celts and fellow Indiana native Stevens.

“I talked to (president of basketball operations) Danny (Ainge) on the phone, and I talked to Brad. They both wanted me to stay,” Young said. “I respect Brad, followed his career path. I know his body of work and admire the way he approaches the game.”

There were other reasons to stay put — his wife, Jaynene, and 4-year-old son, Jamieson.

“My wife has a good job in Belmont in the school district there, so it’s good for her to be able to stay in that job,” he said. “I had two great options, and at the end of the day it really just came down to family and what was best for my family.”

Young also hopes to be able to form a Colts fan support group with Stevens.

“It’ll be comforting,” he said with a smile.

Already impressing

Top draft pick Kelly Olynyk is looking very good, showing a nice outside stroke that should have him working well with an inside presence like Jared Sullinger. The two may have some defensive matchup issues, but the combination will help the Celtics move their side of the scoreboard.

“It’s been pretty good,” said Olynyk of his first few practices with the summer group. “Guys have come in and worked hard. It’s been a good couple of days so far.

“It’s different because of the 24-second shot clock and everybody’s quicker, faster, stronger. So the speed of the game is definitely a step up.” . . .

Sullinger, coming off back surgery, is still prohibited from engaging in contact, but he’s been working on his conditioning.

“I need to drop a couple of pounds, just get my body in shape and get my wind back,” he said.

He denied getting antsy, saying, “I’m taking my time. I know it’s going to be a long season, so I might as well not rush it.”

- See more at: http://bostonherald.com/sports/celtics_nba/boston_celtics/2013/07/notebook_fab_melo_excited_for_new_shot#sthash.qctVx0de.dpuf

I have fears for Olynyk in the real NBA...these games are no real litmus for someone who's suppossed to be a real NBA player...if he goes inside in these games and starts eating Wilsonburgers we is truly screwed!